When take AP Calculus? (11th or 12th grade)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SWW has many students doubling up Geo & Algebra 2 in 9th grade, so I'd imagine that large cluster takes Pre-calc next, then their AP Calc junior year.

Really not recommended to take geo and algebra 2 simultaneously. Why not take geo in 8th grade?

Because DCPS middle schools don’t have geometry classes in 8th. The math offerrings are really poor and disappointing.

Deal does

Hardy does too. And any DCPS student can take summer algebra or geometry rather than having two double up during the school year, if they want to get to AP calculus sooner.

https://dcpsstrong.com/summer-hs/summer-learning-original-credit/

The summer school Geometry course route is common for strong K-8 private school students who go to DCPS for high school. or MCPS.

Cramming a math course in the summer is not ideal and will not provide a good foundation. Math is also weak in DCPS overall.

As a result, this can be seen in the poor AP pass rate in DCPS for Cal with somewhere low 30%. Also low bar because pass is defined as 3 and above. You can also see the very low SAT math averages in majority of the schools too.

Doesn't DCPS still fund and pay for anyone to take an AP test or SAT test? So kudos to them for getting the whole bell curve in that number.

The kids who know how to get a 5 on the AP Calc test junior or senior do. and they'll look competitive in the T100 college process.

You are not getting the whole bell curve in that number. That is incorrect. This is the highest math in most of the DCPS schools and in the poorly performing schools, majority of kids don’t even get to AP Cal. It is the “top” kids in DCPS and what it represents. Numbers are not good.

I say top in quotes because AP cal in 12th is not considered tops in any really good school district in the burbs here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

No one said above about serious kids but seeing Cal taken in 12th is not impressive at all when looking at courses when applying for top schools. That is what people are saying. It’s the floor and basic.

No OP did not ask about STEM majors but it is important to note that most STEM majors at top 20 schools have taken Cal earlier than 12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

Stuff like this I hate, when people spit out 'shit' out of their mouths. My brother and I did not take AP Calculus. But we went to college and majored in Math, and oh, we also got a master's in Math too-- wow. Now, I would like to say that when we took the college placement exam, we were placed in Calculus 1. Oh, and before you come on and say we didn't go to a competitive college, you're mistaken. We didn't go to a top 20 for undergrad-- it was still top 50, and our MS was from a top 20.

[Anonymous]

Ahhh the 1990s when only like 10 AP tests existed, not 45…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

No one said that anywhere here except you, just now.

If you’re a good student with no impressive hobbies or sports or interests to showcase, you would be doing yourself a disservice doing a sub-median math track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

No one said that anywhere here except you, just now.

If you’re a good student with no impressive hobbies or sports or interests to showcase, you would be doing yourself a disservice doing a sub-median math track.

People literally said that students taking calc as seniors should think about a GED instead of a high school diploma, and must be aiming only for UDC. Yes, those claims are detached from reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

No one said that anywhere here except you, just now.

If you’re a good student with no impressive hobbies or sports or interests to showcase, you would be doing yourself a disservice doing a sub-median math track.

People literally said that students taking calc as seniors should think about a GED instead of a high school diploma, and must be aiming only for UDC. Yes, those claims are detached from reality.

Yup. Previous page, 15:06 and 15:41.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

Stuff like this I hate, when people spit out 'shit' out of their mouths. My brother and I did not take AP Calculus. But we went to college and majored in Math, and oh, we also got a master's in Math too-- wow. Now, I would like to say that when we took the college placement exam, we were placed in Calculus 1. Oh, and before you come on and say we didn't go to a competitive college, you're mistaken. We didn't go to a top 20 for undergrad-- it was still top 50, and our MS was from a top 20.

Sorry but you are clueless. College admissions these days are nothing like back then. Nothing.

Go on the college forum and ask about not taking Cal if you want to go to a competitive school and major in math. You would be decimated and laughed out of the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

DP. OP didn't ask about stem majors. They asked when a student should aim to take calculus. People are very reasonably noting that 11th or 12th grade works, depending on the kid.

The idea that kids taking calc in 12th can't possibly be serious students with strong college prospects is detached from reality.

No one said above about serious kids but seeing Cal taken in 12th is not impressive at all when looking at courses when applying for top schools. That is what people are saying. It’s the floor and basic.

No OP did not ask about STEM majors but it is important to note that most STEM majors at top 20 schools have taken Cal earlier than 12th.

And they are wrong. For many kids—especially non-STEM kids, who do exist!—it’s the right level and will be more than sufficient to get into top schools.

And even for STEM kids! I know of a current Ivy student from DCPS majoring in math who took BC in 12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Look, families on here are not shooting for UDC like some kids in DC. They are educated and shooting for competitive colleges. So no it is not fine to compare to those kids.

You should be shooting for and taking rigorous and advanced courses because your kid hs the aptitude for it and because yes your kid will be competing against the kids in the burbs for the top 20 or 50 schools or whatever.

But my kid is already in at a top 20 school despite not taking calculus until senior year.

Then your kid must have had other impressive things to recommend them admission because it wasn’t the math that got them in.

Also is your kid a STEM major?

Stuff like this I hate, when people spit out 'shit' out of their mouths. My brother and I did not take AP Calculus. But we went to college and majored in Math, and oh, we also got a master's in Math too-- wow. Now, I would like to say that when we took the college placement exam, we were placed in Calculus 1. Oh, and before you come on and say we didn't go to a competitive college, you're mistaken. We didn't go to a top 20 for undergrad-- it was still top 50, and our MS was from a top 20.

Sorry but you are clueless. College admissions these days are nothing like back then. Nothing.

Go on the college forum and ask about not taking Cal if you want to go to a competitive school and major in math. You would be decimated and laughed out of the thread.

Yes, well, people on the college forum who assert stuff like that so confidently mostly have their heads up their asses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 or 12, does not matter. Whatever works for your kid.

I gather maybe it matters in the suburbs, where everyone is desperately competing for limited seats at the same flagship at the same discounted in-state price. But in DC proper, kids apply to and attend a much wider range of colleges, so there’s a lot less pressure to conform. Just do what works for you.

Given the bull market the last 20 years everyone's 529s were fully funded for college by the time a kid was 12 yo. So no, that's not it. It's proving you can learn calculus and test well on it. Personally I'd want it done junior year and do more electives senior year. Plus don't kids want all the weighted 5.0 or 4.75 A-s they can get before Fall semester senior year clocks in for rank?

I would say those considerations go to “what works for you.” What I object to is the hysterical insistence that it’s the literal end of the world if your child does not take calc by junior year. It’s not.

I know, many options! Just get a GED already.

See, this is what I hate about DCUM. You have this idea that the optimal way to do high school involves taking AP Calc junior year. Fine. But then you take this other absurd step where you argue that everyone who doesn’t approach high school exactly as you believe they should, might as well drop out of school and stop their education right there. It’s not so black and white. Tons of kids get into elite schools with calc senior year.

Like my national level hockey neighbor kid!

[Anonymous]

It is tiring how people on here try to justify how poorly math is taught and the poor offerings in DCPS. So many families have to supplement.

Also a few outliers does not make a statement false. Any kid applying to any competitive college should take Calculus, STEM or non-STEM major. STEM majors should at least have taken Calculus BC and ideally beyond. BTW, overwhelming majority of DCPS schools only offer Calculus AB as their highest math course which is insufficient.

If you as a parent don’t agree that is your prerogative and do what you want. But families should be aware what standards are and not outlier examples.